Sound-producing machine.



F. ILLO.

soureo PRODUCING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 23, 1911.

Patented Sept. '10, 1918.

INVENTOR fiam? [/22 BY A TORNEYS ms NORRIS Pnsvs co wow LIVHQ, WAsmHc TON. n, r

the impact ofthe beams. large cylinder 4 is provided and properly.

UNITED srAr s PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK film, 0]? DALLAS, TEXAS,

SOUND-PRODUCING- MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK 111.0, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sound Producing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention appertains to sound producing instruments and sound imitators and comprises an assembly of a plurality of sound producing instruments all unified through a central control for use in connection with theaters and particularly moving pictures. It is a purpose of the invention to produce an assembly of sound imitators or instruments for the purpose of producing at the will of the operator any tone or audible sound which may be used to advantage indepicting with more actual realism and life motion pictures. Provision also is had in the invention for instantly producing any tone which may be disclosed through the action or movement of any actor which may be on exhibition or in action on the film screen.

With the above and other objects in view the invention discloses a certain combina tion of mechanical and musical instrumentalities for the purpose of producing the various audible sounds an example of which is described in. the following specification pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing; wherein, p t

Figure 1 illustrates in diagrammatic form the general lay out and assembly of a plurality of sound producing machines, the view being taken in front elevation.

Fig. 2 shows a side view to further explain the construction of several elements of the, device. I

Referr ng now more in particular to the drawing, A designates an instrument for producing and imitating the sound of horses I on a pavement. This particular instrument consists of a plurality of wooden beams l spaced apart, arranged parallel and pivoted upon a shaft 2. One extremity of the wooden beams is adapted to normally lie in contact with a large timber or beam 3 which may have a slightly padded surface such as leather laid across the surface to receive A substantially Specification of Letters Patent. P t t d t; 10, Application filed April 23, 1917. Serial No. 163,933.

journaled in bearings. The cylinder is provided with a v alined with the beams 1. The drum is driven by a belt 6 passed over the pulley 7 and driving pulley 8. The driving pulley 8 is loosely confined upon the main shaft 9,

plurality of projecting pegs 5 which shaft will be provided with a number s of pulleys for driving each element as described. The pulley 8 being loose upon the shaft 9 will not bedriven by said shaft except through the means as now described. The ulley 8 is provided with a clutch face 10 integrally formed therewith. r1 similar clutch 1.1. is slida'bly mountedv upon the shaft 9 by means of a key or other similar device which vill cause the clutch 11 to be driven 111 positive relation with the shaft 9.

A pivoted link 12 is provided and has 0perative action with the clutch 11. A cylinder 13 carrying a plunger 14 and connect ing rod 15 is provided. The connecting rod 15 and link 12 are pivotally connected such that the plunger may exercise a certain control over the clutch member 11. A tube 16 connects the cylinder 13 with a main air line 17 which is fed with compressed air from a supply reservoir 18. A solenoid 19 has direct connection with an air-valve. 20 in such a manner that when the solenoid is energized the core is drawn inwardly causingthe air valve 20 to be opened admitting J the pressure within the cylinder against the plunger and engaging the clutches lOand 11, such action on the part ofthe solenoid will bring instrument A into play by revolving the cylinder 1- which will cause the A description will now be given of an instrument used to imitate a wood crash, which instrument willleffectively produce an audible noise very similar to the breaking down of wooden structures such as the collapse of a house, wall or bridge This instrument is designated by the character B and comprises a plurality of flexible slats 21 securely bound together by the cross members 21 with the free extremities terminating adjacent to a cylinder 2:2 provided with a plurality of lifting or contact pins 23 alined with each slat in such a manner that when the drum is revolved atremendous and voluminous crash is set up by the vibration and slapping of the slat extremities against the wooden cylinder. Thisinstrument with the high speed revolving druni imitates the cracking and crashing of wood or timber.

The character 0 designates an instrument used for imitating rifle or pistol shots and comprises a plurality of lightweight slats 24: spaced apart in parallel relation and pivoted upon a shaft 25 with a tension spring returning means as illustrated in F1 2, and which is similar'to the arrangement of the beams 1 in instrument A. The upper extremities of the slats 24 are normally in contact with a large and heavily padded support 26 while the other extremities of the slats 2d are arranged adjacent to and alined with pins 27 carried on a drum 28. The sound produced by the sudden and vio lent contact of the members 2st against the padded receiver effectively imitates the crack of a rifle and with the drum 28 revolving at a high speed sets a volley of sounds in imitation of battle.

The three instruments A, B and C are all driven through a similar means from the common line shaft 9, and the action of each is independently controlled one of the other by the means comprising the electrical pneumatic assembly which was described in connection with the description of the instru ment A.

A device for producing the sound of cannon is designated by the letter D and. comprises a frame 29 upon which tightly stretched a buck skin diaphragm 30. A substantially large beater is provided in the form of an arm 31 carrying'upon the upper extremity thereof a padded beater member 32, the arm being pivoted upon a shaft 33 and having its other extremity positioned adjacent to a cylinder iiiwhich is provided with a pin 35 for the purpose of displacing the beater head 82, causing it to be impinged against the buck skin diaphragm through the tension of a coil return spring 36 carried upon the shaft and pressing against the arm 81. This instrumentwith its heavy clapper head 82 will produce deep roaring tones similar to the distant rumbling of cannon. V

A rain producing device is provided and designated herein by the letter E which de-' vice comprises a substantially large cylinder 37 journaledin a similar manner to the other devices mentioned and which cylinder may bepartly filledwitlr water, or with lead shot or steel balls to h t andpepper ally carried by cranks on a Y of thunder.

against the interior wallsthereof during the revolution of the cylinder.

A glass crashing device F is shown comprising a drum 38 may be partly filled with broken glass to reproduce the sound of falling and cracking glass during the revolution of the drum.

An instrument G is shown in connection with the general assembly and provided to reproduce and imitate the tonesof thunder. This instrument comprises two substantially large sheets of tin or sheet metal suspended from connecting arms 39 which are pivotshaft, 40 suitably journaled and driven. The high speed revolution of he crank shaft "10 will set up a wave like vibration through flexible .metal sheets in such a manner asto effectively produce audible tones in cohsonance with the sound of distant peals and rumbles A device H is provided for imitating the sound of apuffing locomotive and consists of a thin metallic diaphragm or sheet 11 suspended between a frame A2. .An arm 43 is pivoted to a shaft and provided with areturn spring in a similar manner and for a similar purpose asdescribed in the instrument D. A drum 4L4 properly ournaled and driven is fitted with a pin 15 'for the purpose of imparting vibratory action to "the :arm. A great number of light metal ribs or preferably unrest-(i are arranged 111 a cluster and in brush form from the extremity of the arm for the purpose of lightly im pinging the metallicdiaphragm. This device will givethe unmistakable tones of the pufling of a locomotive. I

A cluster of bells I is shown in connection with this theatrical device and comprises a plurality of bells ofall wires,- from the locomotive bell 'to a small door bell or buzzer, each bell is ringed electrically through the coil and buzzer providedon the bells. The locomotive bell may have its clappervibrated by a magnet or solenoid as illustrated. An automobile horno'r siren 47 maybe connected up for obtaining that sound. v v

'A battery of whistlesJ isjprovided and arranged to be blown from a "c ompr'ess ed (air chamber through a connecting tube 48 which enters the base of each whistle. The whistles vary in tone from the deep'sonorous sound ofa steam boat whistle to the shriek of a locomotive, the operator of this device properly selecting the whistle to be blown during theperformance given; "Each whistle is provided with a releasing valve 49 which iscontrolled through the action of a magnet 50 which may be energized by means later described.

"Ajmain drive shaft 51 is jjdurnaled a similar manner to thefdrive shaft 9 and nection with a main feed Wire 53 fed from' an electric battery 54. A main branch 55 leads from the other side of the battery through a plurality of push buttons 56. Each push button has connection with the .main branch 55, and a transmission wire 57 leads from the other side of each button. This description of the electrical system shows the one extremity or side 52, of every solenoid used in connection with the driving means for each separate instrument connecting with the branch line 57 which leads from each button 56. The other extremity of the solenoid wire or side is designated by the numeral 58 which has connection with the main connecting lines 59, which all join to the common supply line 53. Each line 59 therefore connects with one side 58 of the solenoid, with the switch button 56 interposed in the circuit line and each line 57 which leads from each button has connection with the other side of the solenoid 52.

The foregoing description of the electrical control to be exercised over the individual instruments of the whole assembly also controls the operation of the bells and whistles. The numeral 58 in connecting one side of the electrical circuit of the bellringing coils which has connection with its cor related branch 59 and the other side of the bell ringing coil 52 has connection with one of the branches 57 from its respective control button. Likewise the solenoids controlling the air blasts of the whistles are electrically controlled from the switch button board.

The whole assembly of the many sound producing instruments herein disclosed will be constructed in a cabinet suitable for such purpose and the instrument will be highly adaptable for use in connection with the atrical and motion picture work by permitting the film operator to have before him the switch button key board which he may use to produce the desired tones as the features of the film are unfolded before the audience.

The invention is presented to include all such changes and modifications in design and form which may be construed to come within the meaning of the following claims. I Claims:

1. In a sound producing machine, the

combination with a plurality of sound producing elements capable of being selectively controlled, of a thunder producing effect composed of'a shaft provided with cranks, sound sheets suspended from the cranks, and

means for controlling the operation of the shaft so as to vibrate the sound sheets.

In a sound producing machine, the combination, with a plurality of sound producing elements to give the diiferent effects desired in stage work and said elements be ing capable of selective control in their sound producing capacity of a device capable of imitating the sound of a locomotive and consisting of a metallic sheet, a pivoted arm, a plurality of metallic and flexible beater wires carried upon said arm, and means provided to vibrate the arm in such a manner as to strike the flexible beater wires against the metallic sheet.

3. In a sound producing device for giving the effect of thunder, a locomotive, and cannon, selectively controllable one from the other; sound sheets, a crank shaft having connection with the sound sheets so as to vibrate same; a metallic sheet, a plurality of wire beaters adapted to ply upon the sheet to give the swishing sound of a locomotive; and a frame, a buckskin diaphragm stretched upon the frame, and a clapper adapted to "strike the diaphragm to produce the sound of cannon, g

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflixmy Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0." g 

